Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman Reenactor

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman Reenactor

–  Click on the image to enlarge or purchase  –

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman

For over half a century, tens of thousands of Colonial Williamsburg visitors have opted for a carriage ride through the Historic Area. The horse-drawn drives are a signature experience in the restored colonial capital.  The rides themselves, although the most visible, are just part of the work of a Colonial Williamsburg Coachman and the stablehands who provide the support.

The routine begins at 7 a.m., when the staff start getting everything ready to roll. That means checking the horses, feeding them, cleaning vehicles, polishing harness brass and checking the leather for wear. The coachmen arrive about 8:30 a.m. They groom the horses, get them in harness, make last-minute checks of the vehicle, change into costumes, help put the horses to the carriages, before heading to the Historic Area to pick up passengers.

Rides continue until about 4:30 p.m. most of the year, although in summer they can extend until later.

Colonial Williamsburg Coachman Reenactor

Coachman Reenactor, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

–  Click on the image to enlarge or purchase  –

Of all they learn on rides, the visitors to Colonial Williamsburg seem most surprised by the slow pace of eighteenth-century transportation. A Williamsburg-Richmond trip now takes sixty minutes via interstate highway. In the 1700s, it was an uncomfortable twelve to eighteen hours.

Coachmen have to understand the horses and know how to handle the vehicles confidently and safely. The coachman’s art is not just a matter of knowing how to control the horses, a tough skill to master by itself. It involves developing an understanding of how a team works and an intuitive feel for the animals and vehicle.

Click here to learn more about visiting Colonial Williamsburg

Summary
Colonial Williamsburg Coachman
Article Name
Colonial Williamsburg Coachman
Description
The rides taken by the thousands of visitors, although the most visible, are just part of the work of a Colonial Williamsburg Coachman
Author
Publisher Name
Mark Summerfield
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6 Comments

  1. You are bringing back memories of our stays in Williamsburg Mark. I have done that a few times. Nice images.

  2. Looks like a great place Mark. Wonderful images.

  3. Great looking images, Mark. I have to stop in Williamsburg this year.
    Nicely done, man.

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